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Lara Craft Saga #1
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft
After losing her job and her boyfriend on the same day, Lara's beginning to wonder if her life can possibly get any worse. Then along comes Jamie, a childhood friend, offering her a job delivering mysterious packages to random destinations around the world and suddenly, things are looking up.
Lara packs her bags and sets off on an epic adventure, meeting billionaire Arabic Princes, rugged cowboys, a sparkling wannabe vampire, a love guru with sex on the brain and Angelina Jolie's bodyguards along the way. But though trouble always seems to find Lara, it seems love is rather more elusive.
Lara packs her bags and sets off on an epic adventure, meeting billionaire Arabic Princes, rugged cowboys, a sparkling wannabe vampire, a love guru with sex on the brain and Angelina Jolie's bodyguards along the way. But though trouble always seems to find Lara, it seems love is rather more elusive.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2013
5 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
About the author
Lola Salt
2 books13 followersLola Salt is the pen name for two bestselling authors: Sarah Alderson & Becky Wicks.
Becky has written several non-fiction travel diaries for Harper Collins; Burqualicious, Balilicious & Latinalicious, and the new adult Starstruck Series featuring Before He Was Famous, Before He Was Gone and Before He Was a Secret.
Sarah is better known for her Young Adult novels, particularly the critically acclaimed Hunting Lila series (published by Simon & Schuster), as well as the Fated series. She also wrote the new adult romance Come Back To Me under another pen name of Mila Gray.
The two authors met in Bali. Come visit us sometime and we'll buy you a coconut.
Becky has written several non-fiction travel diaries for Harper Collins; Burqualicious, Balilicious & Latinalicious, and the new adult Starstruck Series featuring Before He Was Famous, Before He Was Gone and Before He Was a Secret.
Sarah is better known for her Young Adult novels, particularly the critically acclaimed Hunting Lila series (published by Simon & Schuster), as well as the Fated series. She also wrote the new adult romance Come Back To Me under another pen name of Mila Gray.
The two authors met in Bali. Come visit us sometime and we'll buy you a coconut.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
November 13, 2014
1 - ”Life is for living.” Star.
DNF @ 50%
I think it is more a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ with this book. It started out pretty well, and I did have a few giggles. But it went from sublimely ridiculous to just plain ridiculous very quickly, and I stopped myself reading it, to see if a few days break would get me back into it.
But alas no, Lara and her adventures just aren’t for me, from boffing a devoutly religious virgin rancher in the Australian outback, to a threesome with some stoner Twi-hards in L.A. it was all a bit O.T.T, and that in itself found me getting bored.
I am a fan of Sarah Alderson’s writing, Becky Wicks as an author is new to me, although this extreme circumstantial-comedy style of writing didn’t work for me, I am certain it will be a hit with others. Notwithstanding, I would happily read books written by both authors in the future.
ARC generously provided by the authors. I am sorry I cannot provide a more positive review on this occasion.
DNF @ 50%
I think it is more a case of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ with this book. It started out pretty well, and I did have a few giggles. But it went from sublimely ridiculous to just plain ridiculous very quickly, and I stopped myself reading it, to see if a few days break would get me back into it.
But alas no, Lara and her adventures just aren’t for me, from boffing a devoutly religious virgin rancher in the Australian outback, to a threesome with some stoner Twi-hards in L.A. it was all a bit O.T.T, and that in itself found me getting bored.
I am a fan of Sarah Alderson’s writing, Becky Wicks as an author is new to me, although this extreme circumstantial-comedy style of writing didn’t work for me, I am certain it will be a hit with others. Notwithstanding, I would happily read books written by both authors in the future.
ARC generously provided by the authors. I am sorry I cannot provide a more positive review on this occasion.
November 13, 2014
Sarah Alderson has been a fantastic author in the last two years to me, she’d been able to deliver fantastic novels full with swoon and fast paced scenes and even try out the NA genre and give us another successful novel. So when I heard about her New Adult collaboration with Becky Wicks I was extremely excited to give this book a go.
Our MC Lara really has been having a tough time she’s lost her boyfriend and job in one day and is barely scraping by on money. It’s a depressing time as she doesn’t want to turn to her best friend or parents for a handout, she’d had a lot of fun these past few years, being part of the circus is not something she expected to fall into, but now with her mum pestering her about setting her up on a date with some bloke Jamie who she knew when she was younger, Lara decides to go for it, what else has she got to lose? Lara had already assumed her date with Jamie to be a flop, so I’m glad that things were turned entirely on their head. I won’t give too much away about Jamie, but if you’ve read Sarah’s previous novels, then you kind of know what to expect with her male love interests. Jamie was also the sweetest guy ever, it was obvious that he held a torch for Lara, my only complaint was that I wished that Jamie had been a little open from the beginning and that things didn’t have to end the way that they did. But I suppose that if they hadn’t done then we wouldn’t have been able to go on this weird and wonderful adventure with Lara in the first place. Jamie gets Lara this gig where she’ll be taking packages from one country to the next, she’ll never know what she’s taking each time, or who’ll she encounter on the way, but travelling to all these wonderful countries, who would say no to this wonderful opportunity?
Some readers may have got annoyed with Lara and the situations she found herself in, you could say that Lara just attracted trouble. Some of the escapades she found herself in were unbelievable at times, at times I did want to throttle her, as something bad would always crop up when the best thing for her was around and then there were all those things which were mis-communicated wrong in the first place Overall however Lara brought a lot of laugh out loud moments, she was a quirky character who could talk herself into trouble one minute, but always manage to find a way out. And I thoroughly enjoyed the whirlwind of fun we were able to experience with her on this epic adventure. The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft was a very out there and fun read from Sarah Alderson and Becky Wicks, but one I’m grateful for giving a try!
This review can be found on: The Readers Den
Our MC Lara really has been having a tough time she’s lost her boyfriend and job in one day and is barely scraping by on money. It’s a depressing time as she doesn’t want to turn to her best friend or parents for a handout, she’d had a lot of fun these past few years, being part of the circus is not something she expected to fall into, but now with her mum pestering her about setting her up on a date with some bloke Jamie who she knew when she was younger, Lara decides to go for it, what else has she got to lose? Lara had already assumed her date with Jamie to be a flop, so I’m glad that things were turned entirely on their head. I won’t give too much away about Jamie, but if you’ve read Sarah’s previous novels, then you kind of know what to expect with her male love interests. Jamie was also the sweetest guy ever, it was obvious that he held a torch for Lara, my only complaint was that I wished that Jamie had been a little open from the beginning and that things didn’t have to end the way that they did. But I suppose that if they hadn’t done then we wouldn’t have been able to go on this weird and wonderful adventure with Lara in the first place. Jamie gets Lara this gig where she’ll be taking packages from one country to the next, she’ll never know what she’s taking each time, or who’ll she encounter on the way, but travelling to all these wonderful countries, who would say no to this wonderful opportunity?
Some readers may have got annoyed with Lara and the situations she found herself in, you could say that Lara just attracted trouble. Some of the escapades she found herself in were unbelievable at times, at times I did want to throttle her, as something bad would always crop up when the best thing for her was around and then there were all those things which were mis-communicated wrong in the first place Overall however Lara brought a lot of laugh out loud moments, she was a quirky character who could talk herself into trouble one minute, but always manage to find a way out. And I thoroughly enjoyed the whirlwind of fun we were able to experience with her on this epic adventure. The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft was a very out there and fun read from Sarah Alderson and Becky Wicks, but one I’m grateful for giving a try!
This review can be found on: The Readers Den
October 18, 2014
Lara Craft "not Croft" is a hilarious woman doing her best to find her place in the world and what she should be doing under the guise of finding new men to date after a terrible break up with her circus boyfriend. I received a copy of The Extraordinary of Lara Craft from NetGalley. I saw in the book details that there would be travel across the globe and really wanted to try it. I was not disappointed. There was a time when I was worried about Lara's wild ways but this book really does a good job of showing a person going through the paces of trying to figure things out for themselves. Lara Croft also loses her job as things start out, but the one thing I liked about her is that she didn't give up and along the way her trials are just entertaining. I laughed throughout the book, sometimes out loud. I have already started recommending this book to other people. It does contain adult content so it may not be for everyone but at the end you realize there is a bit of something for readers who like romance, something for those that like adventure and a bit of action even.
Lara had this great knack for making the best out of her situations and I loved that. She manages to have a good time under the worst circumstances. You have to envy someone that makes the best of their world no matter what is thrown at them, though sometimes she seemed to get off-track. It has to be said that sometimes she got a little too wild and I was concerned that maybe she might be missing the big picture but that is a part of life sometimes. Every once in a while we just feel like taking a day off from responsibility. Lola Salt does a great job of allowing us to see ourselves in Lara. One of the great things about The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft is that it was just a bit off the beaten track, a bit fanciful and I loved that. There were these larger than life characters that Lara ran into during her travels and I have to admit that I would have loved that job. It had great pay and she got to travel across the globe. I wanted to try a cake that is only made in New York and Brazil where the cake originates. The shop did not ship and I looked around for a way to get that cake to Michigan so I can see how people's indulgences would result in shipping the oddest things around the world. I look forward to seeing more from this author, especially if her humor comes across in all of her work.
Review can also be seen at LadyTechie's Book Musings http://ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
Lara had this great knack for making the best out of her situations and I loved that. She manages to have a good time under the worst circumstances. You have to envy someone that makes the best of their world no matter what is thrown at them, though sometimes she seemed to get off-track. It has to be said that sometimes she got a little too wild and I was concerned that maybe she might be missing the big picture but that is a part of life sometimes. Every once in a while we just feel like taking a day off from responsibility. Lola Salt does a great job of allowing us to see ourselves in Lara. One of the great things about The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft is that it was just a bit off the beaten track, a bit fanciful and I loved that. There were these larger than life characters that Lara ran into during her travels and I have to admit that I would have loved that job. It had great pay and she got to travel across the globe. I wanted to try a cake that is only made in New York and Brazil where the cake originates. The shop did not ship and I looked around for a way to get that cake to Michigan so I can see how people's indulgences would result in shipping the oddest things around the world. I look forward to seeing more from this author, especially if her humor comes across in all of her work.
Review can also be seen at LadyTechie's Book Musings http://ladytechiesbookmusings.blogspo....
November 23, 2014
Review-Jo Rushton 4.5 stars
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Lara Craft's life was a bit of a calamity (that's CRAFT, not CROFT.. lol). No job, no boyfriend... in fact nothing was going right for her and things needed to drastically change. So when Lara was offered a job that would see her travelling around the world, of she jumped at the opportunity given to her. What followed was a story filled with Lara's hilarious escapades as she embarked on her exciting new career.
I absolutely loved Lara. She was such a funny, crazy character. Trouble seemed to follow her around every corner. The scenarios that she found herself in were laugh out loud funny and she seemed to meet the most eccentric of characters. With every new job, came another entertaining adventure. There was never a dull moment whenever Lara was around!
As Lara traveled from country to country she was always keeping her eye out for love, desperate to meet Mr Right. I began to feel kind of sorry for her because she didn't appear to have any luck in the romance department. Something always went wrong for her. Lara really needed a little help from cupid! With every new assignment, I kept my fingers and toes crossed that love would eventually find her.
"The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft)" gets ❤️❤️❤️❤️.5
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Lara Craft's life was a bit of a calamity (that's CRAFT, not CROFT.. lol). No job, no boyfriend... in fact nothing was going right for her and things needed to drastically change. So when Lara was offered a job that would see her travelling around the world, of she jumped at the opportunity given to her. What followed was a story filled with Lara's hilarious escapades as she embarked on her exciting new career.
Shit happened....but the future just had to look bright, she decided, looking out of the window and smiling faintly. There simply wasn't any other choice.
I absolutely loved Lara. She was such a funny, crazy character. Trouble seemed to follow her around every corner. The scenarios that she found herself in were laugh out loud funny and she seemed to meet the most eccentric of characters. With every new job, came another entertaining adventure. There was never a dull moment whenever Lara was around!
Lara frowned and looked down, only to realise with absolute horror that her left breast was completely exposed and jiggling ten inches from a Hollywood movie star's face.
As Lara traveled from country to country she was always keeping her eye out for love, desperate to meet Mr Right. I began to feel kind of sorry for her because she didn't appear to have any luck in the romance department. Something always went wrong for her. Lara really needed a little help from cupid! With every new assignment, I kept my fingers and toes crossed that love would eventually find her.
She had to find herself...wherever the hell she'd left herself. Was that it? Did she really have to find herself before she could really find a man? Was that where she was going wrong?This was a brilliantly written and hilariously funny story. Think Bridget Jones but funnier and wilder! If you are in need of a giggle and want a book to put a smile on your face, this is the book for you.
"The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft)" gets ❤️❤️❤️❤️.5
June 10, 2018
My rating for this book is 1.0 stars.
Tengamos en cuenta que la protagonista desde un principio es comparada por su nombre con Lara Croft, y supuestamente porque fisicamente se parece a ella (Me imagino que hablara de la Lara Croft protagonizada por Angelina Jolie), entonces si no tienes idea de quien es Lara aqui abajo te dejo una imagen, de pronto evoque recuerdos.
En fin, la historia desde el principio me provoco dolores de cabeza me costaba leerla completa, ni siquiera un capitulo entero. La vida de esta Lara es un poco extrema, viviendo en un circo y recorriendo el mundo hasta que la echan (o mejor se va) cuando descubre a su novio el acróbata enrollado con una acróbata que pueda hacer las figuras mas complejas, como si no tuviera huesos.
Sin trabajo trata de salir de la bancarrota haciendo un trabajo un tanto... extraño. Si te dicen que un empleo de mensajería personal, nunca pensarías que es un empleo donde puedes viajar por el mundo llevando los objetos mas extraños del mundo como... semen de toro.
A pesar de estos hechos divertidos, extraños y un poco asquerosos; es la Lara la que me provoca urticaria porque no disfruto la lectura junto a ella, es mas me aburre hasta mas no poder todo este rollo.
No pude concentrarme en el libro, no conseguí conectar con la historia y fueron muy poca las veces que me reí por algo que debería divertirme. Es agotador, es frustrante que no pudiera conectar para aunque sea tener una lectura amena. No me gusto y lamentablemente no trataria de leerlo otra vez
Tengamos en cuenta que la protagonista desde un principio es comparada por su nombre con Lara Croft, y supuestamente porque fisicamente se parece a ella (Me imagino que hablara de la Lara Croft protagonizada por Angelina Jolie), entonces si no tienes idea de quien es Lara aqui abajo te dejo una imagen, de pronto evoque recuerdos.
En fin, la historia desde el principio me provoco dolores de cabeza me costaba leerla completa, ni siquiera un capitulo entero. La vida de esta Lara es un poco extrema, viviendo en un circo y recorriendo el mundo hasta que la echan (o mejor se va) cuando descubre a su novio el acróbata enrollado con una acróbata que pueda hacer las figuras mas complejas, como si no tuviera huesos.
Sin trabajo trata de salir de la bancarrota haciendo un trabajo un tanto... extraño. Si te dicen que un empleo de mensajería personal, nunca pensarías que es un empleo donde puedes viajar por el mundo llevando los objetos mas extraños del mundo como... semen de toro.
A pesar de estos hechos divertidos, extraños y un poco asquerosos; es la Lara la que me provoca urticaria porque no disfruto la lectura junto a ella, es mas me aburre hasta mas no poder todo este rollo.
No pude concentrarme en el libro, no conseguí conectar con la historia y fueron muy poca las veces que me reí por algo que debería divertirme. Es agotador, es frustrante que no pudiera conectar para aunque sea tener una lectura amena. No me gusto y lamentablemente no trataria de leerlo otra vez
January 17, 2013
My reviews will never do justice to the awesomen books written by Sarah. When I heard about an ADULT BOOK by Sarah and her friend Becky Wicks was going to be released, I remember I muttered 'Holly S***. An adult book written by Sarah AND her friend has to be one mindblowing book.'
It was.
It is.
The book follows the story of twenty seven years old Lara Craft (not Croft, like many characters in this book confused her with) who just wants to find a new path in her life after the breakup with her boyfriend. Her best friend Lucy, though, has other ideas for Lara's new life. She tells her to live the wild life now that she's single. Lara follows her advice but she also takes her mum's advice of going out with her childhood friend Jamie, whom Lara has no memory of except from the time they were four years old playing at her back garden and another when they were fifteen at a wedding. Lara also remembers Jamie was a computer nerd and she was not sure if he was her type, no matter what her mum said about him being very handsome. Nonetheless, Lara and Jamie meet again and SPARKS FLY OVER THE ROOF. The wild adventures of Lara start from that point, after Jamie recommends her to someone who might have a new job for her.
Lara is one hilarous character, there was laughter everytime she got herself into trouble. She was kind of a cat in heat at first when she wanted to get every hot man she saw into bed. Or onto a table. Or a rock. Ahem! Anyway, she was funny and was not into relationships after the breakup with her boyfriend but when she saw Jamie, the computer nerd she was afraid of going out with, was not only a hottie guy but a smart, kind and fun hottie guy, she could see herself falling for him very fast. Alas, they didn't saw each other much after their one date and in the meantime Lara was wasting no time fulfilling her wild fantasies with the men she met. And that was the part I did not like: Lara having wild sex and even a twisome (you gotta read the book to find out what this word means!) with men she met in a day. I kept thinking 'How can she do that? She's having sex with strangers. I wouldn't do that' but I then realized this was not MY story. This was Lara's adventures, this was HER story and she was not flawless, nobody is. As soon as I understood this I started adoring this girl. She wanted her fairytale and she knew from the start that her fairytale might lay with Jamie. She made mistakes but she understood, she knew she gotta start afresh, find what she really wanted in life. For all those things and more I adored Lara. She was adorable and funny.
And then there's Jamie who is a truly sweetheart. He met Lara when he was fours years old and since then he hadn't been able to forget her. He's the sweetest guy. I wished there had been more of him in the book. I really hope there's a sequel because I can't get enough of Lara and Jamie. I needed more! lol
This book made me jealous of Lara because of all the places she visited and all the adventures she had. I wish I could have that in my life with my girlfriends. Minus the wild sex, of course! :p
You guys, if you're a fan of Sarah Alderson and Becky Wicks AND an adult, you NEED to read this book. Quiclly. ASAP.
Lara needed excitement in her life now; romance, daring, adventure, travel, maybe the odd trapeze. She did not need talk about html coding and checking in on Foursquare.
It was.
It is.
The book follows the story of twenty seven years old Lara Craft (not Croft, like many characters in this book confused her with) who just wants to find a new path in her life after the breakup with her boyfriend. Her best friend Lucy, though, has other ideas for Lara's new life. She tells her to live the wild life now that she's single. Lara follows her advice but she also takes her mum's advice of going out with her childhood friend Jamie, whom Lara has no memory of except from the time they were four years old playing at her back garden and another when they were fifteen at a wedding. Lara also remembers Jamie was a computer nerd and she was not sure if he was her type, no matter what her mum said about him being very handsome. Nonetheless, Lara and Jamie meet again and SPARKS FLY OVER THE ROOF. The wild adventures of Lara start from that point, after Jamie recommends her to someone who might have a new job for her.
Lara is one hilarous character, there was laughter everytime she got herself into trouble. She was kind of a cat in heat at first when she wanted to get every hot man she saw into bed. Or onto a table. Or a rock. Ahem! Anyway, she was funny and was not into relationships after the breakup with her boyfriend but when she saw Jamie, the computer nerd she was afraid of going out with, was not only a hottie guy but a smart, kind and fun hottie guy, she could see herself falling for him very fast. Alas, they didn't saw each other much after their one date and in the meantime Lara was wasting no time fulfilling her wild fantasies with the men she met. And that was the part I did not like: Lara having wild sex and even a twisome (you gotta read the book to find out what this word means!) with men she met in a day. I kept thinking 'How can she do that? She's having sex with strangers. I wouldn't do that' but I then realized this was not MY story. This was Lara's adventures, this was HER story and she was not flawless, nobody is. As soon as I understood this I started adoring this girl. She wanted her fairytale and she knew from the start that her fairytale might lay with Jamie. She made mistakes but she understood, she knew she gotta start afresh, find what she really wanted in life. For all those things and more I adored Lara. She was adorable and funny.
And then there's Jamie who is a truly sweetheart. He met Lara when he was fours years old and since then he hadn't been able to forget her. He's the sweetest guy. I wished there had been more of him in the book. I really hope there's a sequel because I can't get enough of Lara and Jamie. I needed more! lol
This book made me jealous of Lara because of all the places she visited and all the adventures she had. I wish I could have that in my life with my girlfriends. Minus the wild sex, of course! :p
You guys, if you're a fan of Sarah Alderson and Becky Wicks AND an adult, you NEED to read this book. Quiclly. ASAP.
Lara needed excitement in her life now; romance, daring, adventure, travel, maybe the odd trapeze. She did not need talk about html coding and checking in on Foursquare.
January 20, 2013
This was the funniest book I have ever read. I loved it and it definitely cured my reading funk I was in. I don’t think I stopped laughing the whole way through it. Absolutely recommend it to everyone.
This is a light hearted story about Lara Craft, an ex-circus employee that gets a new job travelling the world as a courier. There are heaps of references to other books that I love (and some I don’t) that just kept me laughing right through to the end.
Lara reminded me at times of Bridget Jones and I loved the references to Twilight, the sexy guy from Hunger Games (I am assuming that is Gale as I know what one of the authors thought of Peeta). The Fifty Shades reference was hilarious but also loved that Game of Thrones and 24, Hugh Jackman and Angelina Jolie rated mentions as well. If only Jax from Sons of Anarchy could have made his way into it as well. Oh well…..
Lara was certainly out to have a good time after being memorably dumped by her circus performing boyfriend and continually embarrassing herself in front of Jamie (a childhood friend). There were some “naughty” bits that would mean that this is not for under 18’s although they aren’t too naughty and at one point there is a fair bit of language. There were a couple of cringe worthy moments and as a result the words Twihard and Twisome take on a whole new meaning and I think I have discovered the most crude and unusual tattoo in the history of tattoos. And the good old kitchen table always plays its part well!
CP was such a sweetheart, Jamie reminded me of Colin Firth and Alex even made an appearance!
Once again this was a fantastic light hearted read that everyone should read.
This is a light hearted story about Lara Craft, an ex-circus employee that gets a new job travelling the world as a courier. There are heaps of references to other books that I love (and some I don’t) that just kept me laughing right through to the end.
Lara reminded me at times of Bridget Jones and I loved the references to Twilight, the sexy guy from Hunger Games (I am assuming that is Gale as I know what one of the authors thought of Peeta). The Fifty Shades reference was hilarious but also loved that Game of Thrones and 24, Hugh Jackman and Angelina Jolie rated mentions as well. If only Jax from Sons of Anarchy could have made his way into it as well. Oh well…..
Lara was certainly out to have a good time after being memorably dumped by her circus performing boyfriend and continually embarrassing herself in front of Jamie (a childhood friend). There were some “naughty” bits that would mean that this is not for under 18’s although they aren’t too naughty and at one point there is a fair bit of language. There were a couple of cringe worthy moments and as a result the words Twihard and Twisome take on a whole new meaning and I think I have discovered the most crude and unusual tattoo in the history of tattoos. And the good old kitchen table always plays its part well!
CP was such a sweetheart, Jamie reminded me of Colin Firth and Alex even made an appearance!
Once again this was a fantastic light hearted read that everyone should read.
March 15, 2017
I swear this had been one of those stories that really had me rolling on the floor, laughing out loud! Lara Craft, not Croft, is hilarious and witty, traits that I would want to have one day. Ha!
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft tells about Lara, who serves as a messenger of sorts for high-profiled people while gallivanting around the world. Before she became involved with a Hugh Jackman look-alike and Angelina Jolie's bodyguards, Lara worked at Cirque du Feteesh-Folie doing behind-the-scene/backstage duties. The day she got the boot from her job was also the day she got dumped by her ex-boyfriend slash circus aerial artist. Things weren’t looking up bright for her, so when a former acquaintance, Jamie recommended her to a concierge company, she took the job eventhough she had no idea what she was going to do. In the end, she proved to be qualified for the job and had come and gone to places I would want to visit someday. Australia, Dubai, Bali, etc. And of course, Cupid seems to follow her everywhere she went, because she always received proposals and love proclamations around the globe.
The book is star-studded! I think this is the only novel where all the stars in Hollywood are present, not that I’m complaining. I guess the only thing that pissed me off was the swearing guy named Alf, seriously, what’s wrong with him? Ugh. But swearing men aside, I believe this book from bestselling authors Becky Wicks and Sarah Alderson got an edge, a gem of a novel and a truly exciting read! Seriously, if you want to have some fun while trotting the globe, reading this book is the way to do it, Lara Craft style.
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft tells about Lara, who serves as a messenger of sorts for high-profiled people while gallivanting around the world. Before she became involved with a Hugh Jackman look-alike and Angelina Jolie's bodyguards, Lara worked at Cirque du Feteesh-Folie doing behind-the-scene/backstage duties. The day she got the boot from her job was also the day she got dumped by her ex-boyfriend slash circus aerial artist. Things weren’t looking up bright for her, so when a former acquaintance, Jamie recommended her to a concierge company, she took the job eventhough she had no idea what she was going to do. In the end, she proved to be qualified for the job and had come and gone to places I would want to visit someday. Australia, Dubai, Bali, etc. And of course, Cupid seems to follow her everywhere she went, because she always received proposals and love proclamations around the globe.
The book is star-studded! I think this is the only novel where all the stars in Hollywood are present, not that I’m complaining. I guess the only thing that pissed me off was the swearing guy named Alf, seriously, what’s wrong with him? Ugh. But swearing men aside, I believe this book from bestselling authors Becky Wicks and Sarah Alderson got an edge, a gem of a novel and a truly exciting read! Seriously, if you want to have some fun while trotting the globe, reading this book is the way to do it, Lara Craft style.
October 19, 2014
Originally posted on BookWorm.
After my quick fall in love with Sarah's YA books, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this novel. It sounded interesting, but nothing too incredible.
I was in for a pleasant surprise. I don't think I've laughed so hard since Seduction and Chocolates. Seriously, the situations Lara finds herself in are absolutely hilarious in their impossibility. It was weird to think that a 27 year-old could possibly manage to get herself into so many ridiculous situations.
Admittedly, though, while Lara herself (and CP. Can I have one of my own? Pwease?) was amazing, I felt like Lucy and Jamie were slightly lacking. And it was sort of ok because they weren't in it that much, so their less 3D personalities didn't detract that much from the overall book; the one time when it did impact the story was at the end, which is really quite disappointing. In a way, it almost would have been more satisfying if they had gotten together, as it would add some sense of backstory, rather than just kind of leaving them floating randomly at the end, like beautiful fillers.
That lapse notwithstanding though, a hilarious read that is definitely worth your time!
After my quick fall in love with Sarah's YA books, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this novel. It sounded interesting, but nothing too incredible.
I was in for a pleasant surprise. I don't think I've laughed so hard since Seduction and Chocolates. Seriously, the situations Lara finds herself in are absolutely hilarious in their impossibility. It was weird to think that a 27 year-old could possibly manage to get herself into so many ridiculous situations.
Admittedly, though, while Lara herself (and CP. Can I have one of my own? Pwease?) was amazing, I felt like Lucy and Jamie were slightly lacking. And it was sort of ok because they weren't in it that much, so their less 3D personalities didn't detract that much from the overall book; the one time when it did impact the story was at the end, which is really quite disappointing. In a way, it almost would have been more satisfying if they had gotten together, as it would add some sense of backstory, rather than just kind of leaving them floating randomly at the end, like beautiful fillers.
That lapse notwithstanding though, a hilarious read that is definitely worth your time!
January 23, 2013
Escape to the world of Lara Craft and you'll be taken on a fun, imaginative, rollercoaster of an adventure, set in gorgeous locations and full of non stop action! The writing is witty, spunky and clever - you'll find yourself wanting to pack your bags and see the world after this novel. Simply wonderful reading, highly recommended for any girl who has a hint of wanderlust and yearning for adventure (with a bit of romance on the way!).
October 12, 2014
Honestly I wasn't sure what to expect going in to this book, and I did enjoy it. I had several moments of laughing out loud, a few times I cringed for her and the circumstances she often found herself in but still it was fun. It feels a little drug out in some spots but all in all Lara and her crazy glob trotting story is very entertaining and would be a fun read for most everyone.
This was a complimentary e-copy gifted by the author/publisher via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This was a complimentary e-copy gifted by the author/publisher via netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
August 7, 2014
When ex-circus employee Lara Craft is dumped for a contortionist, there's no point in sticking around. Delivering packages to random global corners for a mysterious concierge company seems like the perfect way to hide from her humiliation.
As she travels, a suitcase full of whips and props might well prepare Lara for proposals by Arabic princes, advances from Christian cowboys and kidnappings by pirates, but nothing can prepare Lara Craft (not Croft) for what happens when she discovers that the best and most exciting thing about her life is right where she least expected to find it
~~~~
I have been so excited and looking forward to reading this book for close to a year because it was written by the author Sarah Alderson, (notable for books such as Losing Lila and Fated), but who wrote under the pseudonym 'Lola Salt'.
The blurb given cannot even begin to warn you of what sort of adventure you will be reading, full to the brim with slightly mental yet funny characters such as CP, Jaguar Moonbeam, and the twihard who is more than a bit obsessive with a certain sparkly vampire. Then there were the men, the dreamy (for most) guys like Jamie, Alex, Jullian and Tyler. Who wouldn't want your very own cowboy from Aus?
Certain aspects of this novel may make you think that it was aimed at a young adult, but believe me, children shouldn't be reading this at all, with it's fair share of R-Rated moments (you can even buy an erotic version on Amazon). It even has a shockingly gory moment which won't be talked about any more to prevent the spoilers from appearing.
It's a book that was full of humour and never failed to make me laugh, whether it be with a day long car journey and the only man for company suffers from tourettes and is more than a little blunt,or trying to trick an arrogant crown prince.
However, the character Lara Craft, that's Craft with an A was more than a little tragic at points and you just couldn't help but feel sorry for her, but also feel that she deserved what she got, considering her actions within three quarters of the book. Yet, this was more than a funny story and a character who made mad (and mostly wrong) choices it focused heavily on her finding herself and trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life through travel. This theme held throughout the book was particularly well written as the author herself travelled the world trying to figure out where she would live.
"Shit happened...but the future just had to look bright, she decided, looking at the silver linings on the clouds outside her window and smiling faintly. There simply wasn't any other choice."
Though the ending could be considered quite sudden, it seemed to tie up the loose ends and left me with a smile on my face. I give it 5 stars not only for entertainment value ad a light hearted tone, but also for a well written story which can be hard to find nowadays.
As she travels, a suitcase full of whips and props might well prepare Lara for proposals by Arabic princes, advances from Christian cowboys and kidnappings by pirates, but nothing can prepare Lara Craft (not Croft) for what happens when she discovers that the best and most exciting thing about her life is right where she least expected to find it
~~~~
I have been so excited and looking forward to reading this book for close to a year because it was written by the author Sarah Alderson, (notable for books such as Losing Lila and Fated), but who wrote under the pseudonym 'Lola Salt'.
The blurb given cannot even begin to warn you of what sort of adventure you will be reading, full to the brim with slightly mental yet funny characters such as CP, Jaguar Moonbeam, and the twihard who is more than a bit obsessive with a certain sparkly vampire. Then there were the men, the dreamy (for most) guys like Jamie, Alex, Jullian and Tyler. Who wouldn't want your very own cowboy from Aus?
Certain aspects of this novel may make you think that it was aimed at a young adult, but believe me, children shouldn't be reading this at all, with it's fair share of R-Rated moments (you can even buy an erotic version on Amazon). It even has a shockingly gory moment which won't be talked about any more to prevent the spoilers from appearing.
It's a book that was full of humour and never failed to make me laugh, whether it be with a day long car journey and the only man for company suffers from tourettes and is more than a little blunt,or trying to trick an arrogant crown prince.
However, the character Lara Craft, that's Craft with an A was more than a little tragic at points and you just couldn't help but feel sorry for her, but also feel that she deserved what she got, considering her actions within three quarters of the book. Yet, this was more than a funny story and a character who made mad (and mostly wrong) choices it focused heavily on her finding herself and trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life through travel. This theme held throughout the book was particularly well written as the author herself travelled the world trying to figure out where she would live.
"Shit happened...but the future just had to look bright, she decided, looking at the silver linings on the clouds outside her window and smiling faintly. There simply wasn't any other choice."
Though the ending could be considered quite sudden, it seemed to tie up the loose ends and left me with a smile on my face. I give it 5 stars not only for entertainment value ad a light hearted tone, but also for a well written story which can be hard to find nowadays.
November 28, 2014
3 stars
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (with A) is indeed an extraordinary book. A kind of parody and comedy version of Eat, Prey, Love written by duo Becky Wicks and Sarah Alderson under pen name "Lola Salt". Even their pen name is make me snort *heh*. Lara, often mistakenly as mix of Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox and Lana Del Rey, just have a shitty day, fired and break up from her recent boyfriend. She then offered a job in Calibre Concierge from her childhood friend, Jamie, to deliver a package. Seems easy at first, to deliver a package and travel around the world. What a girl can ask for?
Turn that Lara will have extraordinary and raunchy world trips. Start from deflower a virgin and religious cowboy at Australia, have a threesome with Twihard wannabe that think himself as Edward Cullen and his junkies friend at Los Angeles. Then, must act as caught in a fragrante delicto with a gay Arab prince in order to save say prince from his brother in Dubai, discovered fraud cult that used sex in Bali, and last, kidnapped by pirates on Somalia just because the bandits mistake her with the real Angelina Jolie.
Even this book have some erotic vibe, all are written in subtle way but still intended for adults. I think that the part of the around the world trips come from Becky Wicks, and quite surprised that Sarah Alderson who is a YA adult write adult book. Some humor in this book and Lara's personality make me snort, gigle and laugh, even some can be over the top. So many pop culture and celebrity names throw here and there and sometimes it can be so annoying to read. I like "why all people (especially guys) that Lara encounter always have a resemblance with some famous actors?"
TBH, if readers set aside the sillines, I think that they will enjoy this story. Lara is hilarious, funny and so confident with her sexuality. I like the part when she go to Australia and my favorite is when she is on Dubai. Alas, the part in Bali is too short, imo. I would love to like how the author portray Bali, since I'm Indonesian and I know that Alderson also live at Bali. What bother me maybe when an Indonesian receptionist called Lara with "Ibu", then alter it with "ma'am". I don't know what Balinese used to called foreign, but usually we will used "Ms", or "ma'am". And if they used "Ibu", we sometimes shorten it to "Bu". Well, this is just technical writing but still make me a little bit annoyed.
Of course this is a fiction, so I will said that don't take this one seriously. Some parts also wrongly written such as in Australia, there's no cowboy term, then the writing of Muslim prayer that the Dubai Prince said (since I'm Muslim too), even I'm not shocked when read about their "antics", and many other. If you want a comedy and light read, prepare yourself to enjoy Lara Craft's life that indeed... extraordinary.
e-ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (with A) is indeed an extraordinary book. A kind of parody and comedy version of Eat, Prey, Love written by duo Becky Wicks and Sarah Alderson under pen name "Lola Salt". Even their pen name is make me snort *heh*. Lara, often mistakenly as mix of Angelina Jolie, Megan Fox and Lana Del Rey, just have a shitty day, fired and break up from her recent boyfriend. She then offered a job in Calibre Concierge from her childhood friend, Jamie, to deliver a package. Seems easy at first, to deliver a package and travel around the world. What a girl can ask for?
Turn that Lara will have extraordinary and raunchy world trips. Start from deflower a virgin and religious cowboy at Australia, have a threesome with Twihard wannabe that think himself as Edward Cullen and his junkies friend at Los Angeles. Then, must act as caught in a fragrante delicto with a gay Arab prince in order to save say prince from his brother in Dubai, discovered fraud cult that used sex in Bali, and last, kidnapped by pirates on Somalia just because the bandits mistake her with the real Angelina Jolie.
Even this book have some erotic vibe, all are written in subtle way but still intended for adults. I think that the part of the around the world trips come from Becky Wicks, and quite surprised that Sarah Alderson who is a YA adult write adult book. Some humor in this book and Lara's personality make me snort, gigle and laugh, even some can be over the top. So many pop culture and celebrity names throw here and there and sometimes it can be so annoying to read. I like "why all people (especially guys) that Lara encounter always have a resemblance with some famous actors?"
TBH, if readers set aside the sillines, I think that they will enjoy this story. Lara is hilarious, funny and so confident with her sexuality. I like the part when she go to Australia and my favorite is when she is on Dubai. Alas, the part in Bali is too short, imo. I would love to like how the author portray Bali, since I'm Indonesian and I know that Alderson also live at Bali. What bother me maybe when an Indonesian receptionist called Lara with "Ibu", then alter it with "ma'am". I don't know what Balinese used to called foreign, but usually we will used "Ms", or "ma'am". And if they used "Ibu", we sometimes shorten it to "Bu". Well, this is just technical writing but still make me a little bit annoyed.
Of course this is a fiction, so I will said that don't take this one seriously. Some parts also wrongly written such as in Australia, there's no cowboy term, then the writing of Muslim prayer that the Dubai Prince said (since I'm Muslim too), even I'm not shocked when read about their "antics", and many other. If you want a comedy and light read, prepare yourself to enjoy Lara Craft's life that indeed... extraordinary.
e-ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review
October 21, 2014
I was really frustrated by this book, primarily by the main character. When talking to a friend today I compared it to a train wreck, so horrifying it was impossible to look away.
Let me correct a few things that were mentioned in this book that are definitely not true;
- Australians are not cowboys, even if they farm cows.
- They do not wear Stetsons.
- They do not randomly shout swear words in the middle of sentences, especially if they are Christians (the protagonist thinks briefly that the character in question has Tourette's but this is never further discussed).
- Hardly anyone uses the term 'sheila' to refer to a woman.
- a building on a farm is never called a ranch
Apparently these authors have never met an Australian or been to Australia because you know what... Wearing ugg boots on a farm in the Outback is a bloody stupid thing to do. The extent of their research was apparently the Bible Belt of SoCal.
The heroine, Lara, drove me mad. When she wasn't name dropping brands, imitating Angelina Jolie and feeling sorry for herself, she was jumping into bed with men that she had really only just met even if she was disturbed by them! Everything she did was influenced by her own sense of self importance and done for the sake of her own ego.
In addition to that the ending was fairly predictable, and that was really the only thing that got me through the entire book because there were so many times when I was tempted to make this book a DNF.
Two stars because I want to be fair, and I do have to admit that some of my dislike was based around this being not the kind of book I would normally go for, but also it was mostly terrible. No offensive terrible, but terrible enough to only warrant two stars from me.
(This review will also appear at http://quietworldbooks.blogspot.com.au as soon as I have a proper internet connection again. This review was written from my phone.)
Let me correct a few things that were mentioned in this book that are definitely not true;
- Australians are not cowboys, even if they farm cows.
- They do not wear Stetsons.
- They do not randomly shout swear words in the middle of sentences, especially if they are Christians (the protagonist thinks briefly that the character in question has Tourette's but this is never further discussed).
- Hardly anyone uses the term 'sheila' to refer to a woman.
- a building on a farm is never called a ranch
Apparently these authors have never met an Australian or been to Australia because you know what... Wearing ugg boots on a farm in the Outback is a bloody stupid thing to do. The extent of their research was apparently the Bible Belt of SoCal.
The heroine, Lara, drove me mad. When she wasn't name dropping brands, imitating Angelina Jolie and feeling sorry for herself, she was jumping into bed with men that she had really only just met even if she was disturbed by them! Everything she did was influenced by her own sense of self importance and done for the sake of her own ego.
In addition to that the ending was fairly predictable, and that was really the only thing that got me through the entire book because there were so many times when I was tempted to make this book a DNF.
Two stars because I want to be fair, and I do have to admit that some of my dislike was based around this being not the kind of book I would normally go for, but also it was mostly terrible. No offensive terrible, but terrible enough to only warrant two stars from me.
(This review will also appear at http://quietworldbooks.blogspot.com.au as soon as I have a proper internet connection again. This review was written from my phone.)
February 7, 2017
I received a free copy of this book.
'The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft' is one of those crazy stories that goes from one silly situation to the next quicker than you can think. It was a light and sometimes funny read but maybe a little too crazy for me.
The main character, Lara, is in a difficult situation at the beginning of the book. Having lost her job and her boyfriend she has no future plans and there are quite a lot of bills to be paid. This is the reason why she accepts a mysterious job offer from an old friend that promises traveling the world and a lot of new experiences.
I really liked the synopsis of the story - when I started the book I expected an interesting heroine, getting to know more about the places she travels to and a funny story.
Unfortunately, the story doesn't spend enough time on the supporting characters to really get to know them - a shame because some of them were quite interesting. Lara, however, was hard for me to relate to. I really liked her in the beginning of the story but she lost me once her travels started. Her way of thinking was sometimes just stupid while other time quite offensive. I didn't like her way of thinking at all and her way of dealing with the problems she had caused herself was just too much for me.
I also understand that hot guys might make a book more interesting but it's certainly not enough to keep me on reading the story.
There are also only few information on the places she visits and it seemed to me as if the craziness of the story increased with every place she visited. Just too much for me.
In the end, the book was an okayish read for me. I liked some parts of it but I'm certainly not the right person to read this kind of book but if you like crazy stories you'll love it.
'The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft' is one of those crazy stories that goes from one silly situation to the next quicker than you can think. It was a light and sometimes funny read but maybe a little too crazy for me.
The main character, Lara, is in a difficult situation at the beginning of the book. Having lost her job and her boyfriend she has no future plans and there are quite a lot of bills to be paid. This is the reason why she accepts a mysterious job offer from an old friend that promises traveling the world and a lot of new experiences.
I really liked the synopsis of the story - when I started the book I expected an interesting heroine, getting to know more about the places she travels to and a funny story.
Unfortunately, the story doesn't spend enough time on the supporting characters to really get to know them - a shame because some of them were quite interesting. Lara, however, was hard for me to relate to. I really liked her in the beginning of the story but she lost me once her travels started. Her way of thinking was sometimes just stupid while other time quite offensive. I didn't like her way of thinking at all and her way of dealing with the problems she had caused herself was just too much for me.
I also understand that hot guys might make a book more interesting but it's certainly not enough to keep me on reading the story.
There are also only few information on the places she visits and it seemed to me as if the craziness of the story increased with every place she visited. Just too much for me.
In the end, the book was an okayish read for me. I liked some parts of it but I'm certainly not the right person to read this kind of book but if you like crazy stories you'll love it.
January 2, 2015
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft was a book filled with outrageously silly situations – one right after the other.
Lara is in a bit of a predicament after losing her job and her boyfriend. She has no plan, no money and lots of bills. She decides to accept a job from an old friend that promises travel and new experiences.
The blurb of this book had me really intrigued and I started out really liking Lara – however once her escapades started, she changed a bit and I found her, quite frankly – annoying. Her thought process and the things that she did and said ranged from silly to ignorant and I found it increasingly hard to relate to her.
The adventures were supposed to be the be-all-tell-all of the story and the more they went along, the crazier and more unbelievable they got. I found myself confused a lot and generally shaking my head when I think the intent was to be funny. However, it was all just a little too much for me.
There were some parts of the book that were okay, but for the most part this story left me scratching my head. I don’t know if this just wasn’t the story for me, or if I have just gotten harder to please with the books I read, but unfortunately, this one just didn’t work.
2.5 Stars
ARC generously provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Lara is in a bit of a predicament after losing her job and her boyfriend. She has no plan, no money and lots of bills. She decides to accept a job from an old friend that promises travel and new experiences.
The blurb of this book had me really intrigued and I started out really liking Lara – however once her escapades started, she changed a bit and I found her, quite frankly – annoying. Her thought process and the things that she did and said ranged from silly to ignorant and I found it increasingly hard to relate to her.
The adventures were supposed to be the be-all-tell-all of the story and the more they went along, the crazier and more unbelievable they got. I found myself confused a lot and generally shaking my head when I think the intent was to be funny. However, it was all just a little too much for me.
There were some parts of the book that were okay, but for the most part this story left me scratching my head. I don’t know if this just wasn’t the story for me, or if I have just gotten harder to please with the books I read, but unfortunately, this one just didn’t work.
2.5 Stars
ARC generously provided by the author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
May 2, 2015
Thanks to Alula Press via Netgalley for the free review copy in exchange for my honest opinion!
Did I like this book?
I think that I must have been in the perfect mood to read this book, because I did indeed enjoy it! There were moments that had me laughing out loud, and that's never a bad thing!
Although I didn't exactly connect with Lara, I had a fun time watching her escapades and living vicariously through her. The situations she gets herself into are truly absurd! And while there are times where it seems she is sowing her wild oats, the main romance was sweet and cute. I didn't really buy into it, but I liked it just the same.
Will you like this book?
Honestly, I don't know who I would recommend this one to. It's way too silly and over the top, and unless you're in the mood for that type of read, I don't think you'll like it. I predict that ratings will be split down the middle by reviewers, with half liking it but not loving it, and half hating it. While I fall into the former category, I'm interested to see what others will think, as I've never read a book quite like this one before. It almost defies categorization!
Will I read more by these authors?
Although I've heard of Sarah Alderson's books, I haven't read any yet. "Hunting Lila" is on my TBR, and I'm still interested in picking that one up in the near future.
Did I like this book?
I think that I must have been in the perfect mood to read this book, because I did indeed enjoy it! There were moments that had me laughing out loud, and that's never a bad thing!
Although I didn't exactly connect with Lara, I had a fun time watching her escapades and living vicariously through her. The situations she gets herself into are truly absurd! And while there are times where it seems she is sowing her wild oats, the main romance was sweet and cute. I didn't really buy into it, but I liked it just the same.
Will you like this book?
Honestly, I don't know who I would recommend this one to. It's way too silly and over the top, and unless you're in the mood for that type of read, I don't think you'll like it. I predict that ratings will be split down the middle by reviewers, with half liking it but not loving it, and half hating it. While I fall into the former category, I'm interested to see what others will think, as I've never read a book quite like this one before. It almost defies categorization!
Will I read more by these authors?
Although I've heard of Sarah Alderson's books, I haven't read any yet. "Hunting Lila" is on my TBR, and I'm still interested in picking that one up in the near future.
January 31, 2013
I have a type of book and I'm ashamed to say I normally stick to it. This is because it's comfortable and I kind of know what I'm going to get from it. It takes a special book for me to break the mould. Lara Craft is not my type of book, but I glad I broke the mould for it because it was pretty special.
What I love most about this book is that it is genuinely very funny. Lara gets herself into the most ridiculous, crazy, cringeworthy situations but the way she deals with them means you can't help but love her and laugh along with it. I love that Lara is unapologetic about what she wants from life (nice things, good sex, and eventually a real purpose).
It's engaging, uplifting and hard to put down. A real joy :)
What I love most about this book is that it is genuinely very funny. Lara gets herself into the most ridiculous, crazy, cringeworthy situations but the way she deals with them means you can't help but love her and laugh along with it. I love that Lara is unapologetic about what she wants from life (nice things, good sex, and eventually a real purpose).
It's engaging, uplifting and hard to put down. A real joy :)
October 10, 2014
This book exceeded expectations. I've laughed, cried and enjoyed every minute of reading this book. I love this tale of travel, life and love.
Thank you to Lola Salt for this little gem of e-book reading. Hopefully there will be more brilliant stories from this brilliant partnership in the future!
Thank you to Lola Salt for this little gem of e-book reading. Hopefully there will be more brilliant stories from this brilliant partnership in the future!
October 7, 2014
I'm rating Sarah Alderson's half of this, because I wrote the other half (ahem). That's allowed isn't it? (ahem).
June 2, 2013
Effective rating: 3.5 stars.
I laughed a lot at the situations and at the jokes between Craft, Salt and Angelina Jolie.
The only thing is that sometimes, it was getting a bit long.
I laughed a lot at the situations and at the jokes between Craft, Salt and Angelina Jolie.
The only thing is that sometimes, it was getting a bit long.
May 30, 2015
Me divertí, hasta que llegué a esos últimos capítulos finales desde que la rescatan a ese pésimo final, de los cuales ya no me gustó casi nada.....
December 21, 2016
3.5 stars
I don't know how to start this review. I think I'm just going to say this: This book is not meant to be taken seriously. It is hilarious, ridiculous, unbelievable, incredibly clichéd and stereotypical and so over the top at times. But I loved it. Think of it as a sitcom you're watching just for fun, just because you need some kind of brain candy. Don't start this book thinking that you'll get a deep story about an unfortunate heroine who saves the world by teaming up with an insanely hot guy. Lara is not the regular kind of protagonist. She makes impulsive decisions and does things we would only do in an alternate universe. Her adventures made me laugh out loud so many times, and part of me doesn't understand why, because normally I would just think "WTF is this?" and just DNF the book. But I think the title of the book says it all. Lara's life is in fact extraordinary and you will either love it or hate it. Some scenes are just so ridiculous that you'll either groan in disbelief or laugh for 5 mins straight like me. I understand why a lot of people didn't get into it but for me, it was the exact opposite. I found myself relating to her, feeling sorry for her, and having fun with her on the unbelievable situations she managed to land herself into.
I would have given it 4 stars but I didn't like the way the Tyler situation was handled. It was too convenient and just not believable enough. And Lara being saved by all the time was also too convenient. Otherwise, I do recommend this! Read it! Don't overanalyze it! You will thank yourself! Or me. *coughs*
I don't know how to start this review. I think I'm just going to say this: This book is not meant to be taken seriously. It is hilarious, ridiculous, unbelievable, incredibly clichéd and stereotypical and so over the top at times. But I loved it. Think of it as a sitcom you're watching just for fun, just because you need some kind of brain candy. Don't start this book thinking that you'll get a deep story about an unfortunate heroine who saves the world by teaming up with an insanely hot guy. Lara is not the regular kind of protagonist. She makes impulsive decisions and does things we would only do in an alternate universe. Her adventures made me laugh out loud so many times, and part of me doesn't understand why, because normally I would just think "WTF is this?" and just DNF the book. But I think the title of the book says it all. Lara's life is in fact extraordinary and you will either love it or hate it. Some scenes are just so ridiculous that you'll either groan in disbelief or laugh for 5 mins straight like me. I understand why a lot of people didn't get into it but for me, it was the exact opposite. I found myself relating to her, feeling sorry for her, and having fun with her on the unbelievable situations she managed to land herself into.
I would have given it 4 stars but I didn't like the way the Tyler situation was handled. It was too convenient and just not believable enough. And Lara being saved by all the time was also too convenient. Otherwise, I do recommend this! Read it! Don't overanalyze it! You will thank yourself! Or me. *coughs*
March 23, 2017
I loved this book, snorted out loud and laughed myself silly all the way through it. Lara was an interesting character who manages to land on her feet after losing her job and her boyfriend on the same day. She reconnects with a childhood friend on a blind date and, through him, lands a job as a courier hand-delivering packages all over the world. The places she travels to are exotic and exciting. The people she meets are interesting, strange, bizarre and entertaining. With each delivery, Lara finds herself experiencing new sights, sounds and adventures, some a lot of fun, some downright scary and some completely insane.
I really loved Lara and her approach to this new life. She demonstrates a spirit of adventure and an open mind, which, in her situation, is a necessity and something I greatly admire. Lara was easy to relate to and connect with. I loved that she is receptive to change and not afraid to experience new things. Along the way, she realizes who she is and the importance of home, friends and family.
The secondary characters all bring their own entertainment and charm to the story, though I liked some more than others. I thought the ending was a tad rushed, but all the loose ends got tied up nicely, so it didn’t take away any of my enjoyment. I highly recommend this book for the entertaining and hysterically funny adventures Lara goes on and the interesting people who cross her path.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Extraordinary Life Of Lara Craft (Not Croft) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved Lara and her approach to this new life. She demonstrates a spirit of adventure and an open mind, which, in her situation, is a necessity and something I greatly admire. Lara was easy to relate to and connect with. I loved that she is receptive to change and not afraid to experience new things. Along the way, she realizes who she is and the importance of home, friends and family.
The secondary characters all bring their own entertainment and charm to the story, though I liked some more than others. I thought the ending was a tad rushed, but all the loose ends got tied up nicely, so it didn’t take away any of my enjoyment. I highly recommend this book for the entertaining and hysterically funny adventures Lara goes on and the interesting people who cross her path.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of The Extraordinary Life Of Lara Craft (Not Croft) from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2015
Originally posted at Fragments of Life.
My Thoughts:
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft was definitely one of the craziest, most unique New Adult novels I have ever read so far. I didn't know what to expect in the beginning but I was happy and satisfied with the story in the end.
Let me start with Lara: smart, funny, a bit out of control, impulsive at times and a whole lot of crazy. At first, I had laughed, startled and panicked at her little acts of living the life and making the most out of everything. She was quite the imperfect heroine, getting into all sorts of mess from running away from a cowboy who wanted to marry her, to getting high and getting caught, and to reading too much into actions that she did not see the truth in front of her. I liked how Lola Salt brought Lara's character so far down, into the depths of being broke, feeling lost and feeling just plain hurt, and then moving her through a series of reflections about life and about herself. She turned out to be a girl with a golden heart who made the right decisions, for the things that really mattered.
While Lara worked for Calibre Concierge, she was immersed in various cultures and societies. This was the part that I liked the most out of the book, aside from the humor. It was a feast for one's palate, in terms of the culture. Lara traipsed around UK, LA, Dubai, Australia, Bali and Somalia, delivering packages and meeting new people and friends. I particularly liked how Lola Salt captured the uniqueness and eccentricities of the cultures involved. In traveling, Lara found her true self and the right path for her.
Jamie was Lara's knight and shining armor. Gone were the nerdy looks. He was handsome, charming and thoughtful. I just felt that it would have been better if I had come to know him better, the same way I knew Lara by the end of the novel. He was such an intriguing character; despite the exotic cast in the book, he stood out for me.
The entire cast of characters were alive. I felt that they were not just stuffed into the novel, but actually served a purpose. They felt real to me. Alf, the startling and cursing Aussie; Tyler, the sexy Christian cowboy - I just found him to be adorable with his innocence and newfound interest in expressing his feelings; CP, the gay Arabian prince - he was my favorite secondary character, full of life and surprises.
Injected with craziness, whimsy, sexual and emotional tension, hesitation and humor, The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft would not fail to entertain. It had the humor of Confessions of a Shopaholic, coupled with the craziness and whimsy, hot-and-cold romance, travels and adventures. Exotic and culturally flavorful, The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft would appeal to different reader appetites. I recommend this to readers who would like to read about travelling, adventure and humorous contemporary New Adult.
My Thoughts:
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft was definitely one of the craziest, most unique New Adult novels I have ever read so far. I didn't know what to expect in the beginning but I was happy and satisfied with the story in the end.
Let me start with Lara: smart, funny, a bit out of control, impulsive at times and a whole lot of crazy. At first, I had laughed, startled and panicked at her little acts of living the life and making the most out of everything. She was quite the imperfect heroine, getting into all sorts of mess from running away from a cowboy who wanted to marry her, to getting high and getting caught, and to reading too much into actions that she did not see the truth in front of her. I liked how Lola Salt brought Lara's character so far down, into the depths of being broke, feeling lost and feeling just plain hurt, and then moving her through a series of reflections about life and about herself. She turned out to be a girl with a golden heart who made the right decisions, for the things that really mattered.
While Lara worked for Calibre Concierge, she was immersed in various cultures and societies. This was the part that I liked the most out of the book, aside from the humor. It was a feast for one's palate, in terms of the culture. Lara traipsed around UK, LA, Dubai, Australia, Bali and Somalia, delivering packages and meeting new people and friends. I particularly liked how Lola Salt captured the uniqueness and eccentricities of the cultures involved. In traveling, Lara found her true self and the right path for her.
Jamie was Lara's knight and shining armor. Gone were the nerdy looks. He was handsome, charming and thoughtful. I just felt that it would have been better if I had come to know him better, the same way I knew Lara by the end of the novel. He was such an intriguing character; despite the exotic cast in the book, he stood out for me.
The entire cast of characters were alive. I felt that they were not just stuffed into the novel, but actually served a purpose. They felt real to me. Alf, the startling and cursing Aussie; Tyler, the sexy Christian cowboy - I just found him to be adorable with his innocence and newfound interest in expressing his feelings; CP, the gay Arabian prince - he was my favorite secondary character, full of life and surprises.
Injected with craziness, whimsy, sexual and emotional tension, hesitation and humor, The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft would not fail to entertain. It had the humor of Confessions of a Shopaholic, coupled with the craziness and whimsy, hot-and-cold romance, travels and adventures. Exotic and culturally flavorful, The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft would appeal to different reader appetites. I recommend this to readers who would like to read about travelling, adventure and humorous contemporary New Adult.
November 25, 2016
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Why I read it: I saw this on NetGalley and it sounded like my kind of thing. When I was approved I thought 'yes! I will read this soon!' and then left it FOREVER (though admittedly, not as long as another book I've been sitting on for a very, very long time now *ahem*) also the cover was purple, I really like purple :P
Plot: Lara has just broken up with her boyfriend and lost her job when she finds herself set up on a date with a guy she knew as a kid. This leads him to set her up with another job (even after seeing what a disaster she is with alcohol) and off she goes on adventures in Australia, Bali, Dubai and Somalia.
Characters: First there is Lara, she amused me rather a lot. She's the type of girl who packed to be prepared for every possible eventuality AND just rolled with wherever life took her. Her best friend Lucy also features, though she is not in it much - though her goings on do carry the plot forward. Jamie was lovely, even if he did keep his secrets.
However the ones that stole the scenes in this book were the characters Lara met along the way. From Tyler in Australia to CP in Dubai, every one of them was interesting and entertaining. I can understand why some reviewers didn't like this book, all the characters are absolutely larger than life and in your face. But I enjoyed them all very much, even the ones I disliked had their moments!
Style/Writing: Lola Salt is the pen name for two authors; Becky Wicks and Sarah Alderson. I must admit that I had not heard of either of them before, but I want to check out their solo work now. The writing was set at a cracking pace and we went from one thing to the next quickly. Everything was pulled together pretty well I thought, though the premise is a bit far fetched, it was fun!
Pros: The characters and the writing mainly. This book was hysterical! I don't know if it was just the mood I was in or what, but I was laughing out loud with it. I have read some poor reviews for this novel, so I'll just warn you - it's the type of book you will either love or hate. If I had been in the wrong mood, I could have hated everything about it. But I really needed something light and slap-happy, and that's what I got!
Cons: I'm not sure how much research went into this novel but the Australian bits struck me as not exactly right. I just treated it all as a Hollywood version of everything, stereotypes and a licence to embellish. It wasn't bad as such, but if you're after a book that is factual with its geographical locations, this isn't it.
In Brief: A really fun humorous read, if you like things a little bit out there, this might be the book for you!
November 14, 2014
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
By far, my favorite kind of movie is a comedy. Sure, I like other kinds of movies too, but I always go back to comedies. They have this ability to make me not only feel better- a lot better, but they also allow me to forget my daily stresses for a while. But for some reason, I don't read nearly as many romantic comedy, or flat out humor books. And I have no idea why. I love them. The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft) is flippin' hilarious. I have not had the pleasure of reading a book by Becky Wicks as of yet, but I have a feeling I will be changing that very soon. I have read a Sarah Alderson book and it was a suspense murder book. It couldn't have been more different than The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft). It made me really impressed with her range of writing. I loved her suspense just as much as I loved her comedy. I loved the combination of their writing styles. It seemed liked they played off each other really well, and their writing melded flawlessly.
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft) was pure irreverent fun. Lara Craft literally travels around the world to try and find her place. And as you can imagine, funny situations follow her everywhere. I think there will be something humorous that almost all readers will enjoy and relate to with Lara Craft. Even though the book starts out with her kind of escaping a breakup, Lara is an eternal optimist. You have to admire her positive spin. She will not let anything get her down, and I loved that about her. This is a girl that I want as my friend. I found myself alternating between laughing out loud and smiling while reading for multiple pages before I even noticed my face had morphed into a smile. This book will leave you in perma smile- and that is never a bad thing in my book.
I loved how many movie and tv references there were. Those are kind of my thing. Plus, the romances in this book are awesomely steamy. Quirky book lovers, look no further. This is your book soul mate. The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft) is so much fun. Get ready to go on an adventure with Lara that will have you laughing until the last page.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
By far, my favorite kind of movie is a comedy. Sure, I like other kinds of movies too, but I always go back to comedies. They have this ability to make me not only feel better- a lot better, but they also allow me to forget my daily stresses for a while. But for some reason, I don't read nearly as many romantic comedy, or flat out humor books. And I have no idea why. I love them. The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft) is flippin' hilarious. I have not had the pleasure of reading a book by Becky Wicks as of yet, but I have a feeling I will be changing that very soon. I have read a Sarah Alderson book and it was a suspense murder book. It couldn't have been more different than The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft). It made me really impressed with her range of writing. I loved her suspense just as much as I loved her comedy. I loved the combination of their writing styles. It seemed liked they played off each other really well, and their writing melded flawlessly.
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft) was pure irreverent fun. Lara Craft literally travels around the world to try and find her place. And as you can imagine, funny situations follow her everywhere. I think there will be something humorous that almost all readers will enjoy and relate to with Lara Craft. Even though the book starts out with her kind of escaping a breakup, Lara is an eternal optimist. You have to admire her positive spin. She will not let anything get her down, and I loved that about her. This is a girl that I want as my friend. I found myself alternating between laughing out loud and smiling while reading for multiple pages before I even noticed my face had morphed into a smile. This book will leave you in perma smile- and that is never a bad thing in my book.
I loved how many movie and tv references there were. Those are kind of my thing. Plus, the romances in this book are awesomely steamy. Quirky book lovers, look no further. This is your book soul mate. The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (Not Croft) is so much fun. Get ready to go on an adventure with Lara that will have you laughing until the last page.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
October 22, 2014
The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft, Lola Salt
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
I loved Becky Wicks Before He Was Famous and Before He Was Gone and Sarah Alderson’s Come Back to Me so was looking forward to this collaborative book. Sadly though it didn’t work for me Sad smile I didn’t really take to Lara, she seemed shallow and celebrity obsessed. I need to feel for the main character, to be upset when things go wrong and happy for her/him when they go right, but really with Lara I just felt she got what she deserved. All the things that happened to her she made happen by her actions, she was careless of what she did and not bothered about the effect they had on others. Tyler was a typical example, she just thought about what she wanted, not about how he would feel and after, rather than tell him it was just a fling she let him think she’s be back.
The humour just felt too forced, and reminded me of those 70’s sitcoms where flash cards saying “clap/laugh/groan” were held up to the audience. It felt like the book tried too hard, that every bit of humour needed to be squeezed out of a situation, so in Australia we had the contrast of a Tourette's type swearing done by a heavily bible thumping, Christian man, and in Dubai a very OTT stereotype gay prince with his brother being the multi-married, egotistical playboy type. I just didn’t find the humour in the situations Lara found herself in. Its a shame because I loved the other works from both writers, and they’re on my keepers file but this one – nope, not for me Sad smile
Its got a perfect ending though TBH I disliked Lara so much by then that I didn’t think she deserved it...Happily though this is just my opinion, and as ever we all want different things. Though it didn’t work for me I’m sure there’ll be fans that love it, for whom the humour is perfect and who root for Lara.
Stars: Two. Everyone gets it wrong sometimes and it was my error in choosing this book. I’ll still be happy to read others by these two talented ladies. Disliking one book doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy the next.
ARC supplied via Netgalley and publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
I loved Becky Wicks Before He Was Famous and Before He Was Gone and Sarah Alderson’s Come Back to Me so was looking forward to this collaborative book. Sadly though it didn’t work for me Sad smile I didn’t really take to Lara, she seemed shallow and celebrity obsessed. I need to feel for the main character, to be upset when things go wrong and happy for her/him when they go right, but really with Lara I just felt she got what she deserved. All the things that happened to her she made happen by her actions, she was careless of what she did and not bothered about the effect they had on others. Tyler was a typical example, she just thought about what she wanted, not about how he would feel and after, rather than tell him it was just a fling she let him think she’s be back.
The humour just felt too forced, and reminded me of those 70’s sitcoms where flash cards saying “clap/laugh/groan” were held up to the audience. It felt like the book tried too hard, that every bit of humour needed to be squeezed out of a situation, so in Australia we had the contrast of a Tourette's type swearing done by a heavily bible thumping, Christian man, and in Dubai a very OTT stereotype gay prince with his brother being the multi-married, egotistical playboy type. I just didn’t find the humour in the situations Lara found herself in. Its a shame because I loved the other works from both writers, and they’re on my keepers file but this one – nope, not for me Sad smile
Its got a perfect ending though TBH I disliked Lara so much by then that I didn’t think she deserved it...Happily though this is just my opinion, and as ever we all want different things. Though it didn’t work for me I’m sure there’ll be fans that love it, for whom the humour is perfect and who root for Lara.
Stars: Two. Everyone gets it wrong sometimes and it was my error in choosing this book. I’ll still be happy to read others by these two talented ladies. Disliking one book doesn’t mean I won’t enjoy the next.
ARC supplied via Netgalley and publishers
November 11, 2014
I rarely read chick lit but… The cover and title for Lola Salt’s novel grabbed my attention. I mean, The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (not Croft)? Ha! I had to read it because of the name alone. ;) And I wasn’t disappointed.
This novel has the usual chick lit young woman + work + finding oneself + a bit of sex and romance… but the authors give it a British flair, pop culture pops, and lots of hysterical drama. I found myself snort-giggling and wincing and the adventures (or should I say misadventures!) of Lara.
The heroine’s just been dumped by her circus performer boyfriend AND fired from her job managing the talent of said circus. Her mom arranges a blind-ish date with a guy she remembers a bit from childhood. Jamie is WAY hotter than she remembered but she thinks he’s an IT nerd and “…she was an unemployed misery guts.” *snort* Her sense of humor clicked with me. Anyways- during their disastrous date he gives her the number of a concierge service and tells her they’re hiring.
And then the adventures begin! Lara starts traveling the world and making deliveries. Along her way there’s bull semen, cowboys, rolls in the hay (and elsewhere), glitter, Twilight, exotic animals, George Clooney, Princes, diamonds, inner goddessness, and finding oneself and possibly finding love too. I just held on and enjoyed the entire improbable, entertaining ride.
A few of my fav lines.
♥ Everyone used to think I was a clown. Or that I rode an elephant, like Reese Witherspoon in that movie with Edward Cullen.
♥ The sky was blue, the sun was shining at a bearable temperature, the green palm fronds were swaying and her little allocated house in the rice fields was so Eat, Pray, Love she almost expected it to come with a free Javier Bardem.
I like Lara. *nods* I would hang out with her and I’d definitely read more adventures!
The Queen of Tarts
♦ eARC provided for review for my honest opinion.
Review originally posted on http://thebooktart.com/book-review/th... and my personal rating for this read is a 3.5 ;)
This novel has the usual chick lit young woman + work + finding oneself + a bit of sex and romance… but the authors give it a British flair, pop culture pops, and lots of hysterical drama. I found myself snort-giggling and wincing and the adventures (or should I say misadventures!) of Lara.
The heroine’s just been dumped by her circus performer boyfriend AND fired from her job managing the talent of said circus. Her mom arranges a blind-ish date with a guy she remembers a bit from childhood. Jamie is WAY hotter than she remembered but she thinks he’s an IT nerd and “…she was an unemployed misery guts.” *snort* Her sense of humor clicked with me. Anyways- during their disastrous date he gives her the number of a concierge service and tells her they’re hiring.
And then the adventures begin! Lara starts traveling the world and making deliveries. Along her way there’s bull semen, cowboys, rolls in the hay (and elsewhere), glitter, Twilight, exotic animals, George Clooney, Princes, diamonds, inner goddessness, and finding oneself and possibly finding love too. I just held on and enjoyed the entire improbable, entertaining ride.
A few of my fav lines.
♥ Everyone used to think I was a clown. Or that I rode an elephant, like Reese Witherspoon in that movie with Edward Cullen.
♥ The sky was blue, the sun was shining at a bearable temperature, the green palm fronds were swaying and her little allocated house in the rice fields was so Eat, Pray, Love she almost expected it to come with a free Javier Bardem.
I like Lara. *nods* I would hang out with her and I’d definitely read more adventures!
The Queen of Tarts
♦ eARC provided for review for my honest opinion.
Review originally posted on http://thebooktart.com/book-review/th... and my personal rating for this read is a 3.5 ;)
November 19, 2014
When I first started reading this book, I was so excited. Having heard how funny it was, I couldn't wait to get started. When Lara, who took a high calibre courier job, meets a rancher without much of a brain in Australia, I thought it kind of odd. Right away, there were some "things going on". His mother is quite a laugh! But, I just wanted Lara and her all over lobster tan to get her bum outta there!!!! Tyler scared me a bit.
She ventures next to Los Angeles (she is from the U.K.). She's looking forward to meeting a certain celebrity that most women go ga-ga for. Only she ends up meeting this looney who thinks he is the black Edward Cullin, complete with shiny glitter all over his body. He really believes he is Edward, the vampire. He wants her to remake his version of the Twilight movie with him. She goes along with it (why, I am still perplexed). Then the fun really heats up after a wonderful date, when she gets back to her swanky hotel bungalow (that she can't afford). Chaos starts flying all over the place!!!! I never sat on the edge of my seat for a "funny" book before, but I did, and squirm!!!! You will never know what is around every corner!!
Leave it to say, she travels basically all around the globe. Oh the dilemmas she manages to get herself into!!!! One starts to wonder what is wrong with her for the decisions that she makes. But, she has some really great times, too. It is a nonstop roller coaster of fun!!!! I don't know if the authors have any plans for a sequel. This is way too good to let it end, now. Although...... it is great right up to the very end. It is a real treat from reality; a feel good book that lingers with you long after the book is finished. I will never forget Lara Craft (with the Angie lips) for quite some time. I have to tell all my friends and family about this book. Better yet, Christmas is coming right around the corner and this would make a great gift for all! *I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review. Am I ever glad I was privileged to be able to read it.
She ventures next to Los Angeles (she is from the U.K.). She's looking forward to meeting a certain celebrity that most women go ga-ga for. Only she ends up meeting this looney who thinks he is the black Edward Cullin, complete with shiny glitter all over his body. He really believes he is Edward, the vampire. He wants her to remake his version of the Twilight movie with him. She goes along with it (why, I am still perplexed). Then the fun really heats up after a wonderful date, when she gets back to her swanky hotel bungalow (that she can't afford). Chaos starts flying all over the place!!!! I never sat on the edge of my seat for a "funny" book before, but I did, and squirm!!!! You will never know what is around every corner!!
Leave it to say, she travels basically all around the globe. Oh the dilemmas she manages to get herself into!!!! One starts to wonder what is wrong with her for the decisions that she makes. But, she has some really great times, too. It is a nonstop roller coaster of fun!!!! I don't know if the authors have any plans for a sequel. This is way too good to let it end, now. Although...... it is great right up to the very end. It is a real treat from reality; a feel good book that lingers with you long after the book is finished. I will never forget Lara Craft (with the Angie lips) for quite some time. I have to tell all my friends and family about this book. Better yet, Christmas is coming right around the corner and this would make a great gift for all! *I was provided with a free copy of this book so I could give an honest review. Am I ever glad I was privileged to be able to read it.
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